48 
Mr. H. T. Ussher on the 
noon. The birds captured by Captain Haynes and myself 
had their nests inside the room; but these contained neither 
eggs nor young birds. 
20. Merops albicollis, V.: Sharpe, l. c. p. 3. 
Exceedingly common in every part of Fantee and the Gold 
Coast. It can always be observed in the vicinity of Cape 
Coast, especially about bush-paths and hollow roads towards 
evening, when it may occasionally be seen to collect in large 
numbers, hawking after insects and occasionally resting on 
bushes or low branches of large trees. I have never seen this 
Bee-eater alone, and should consider it decidedly gregarious. 
It has no especial peculiarity in its habits to distinguish it. 
21. Merops malibmicus, Shaw: Sharpe, l. c. p. 3. 
I have received two specimens of this bird from Aubinn, 
but I do not consider it a common bird in Fantee. 
22. Merops pusilltjs (Mull.): Sharpe, p. 4. 
Tolerably common on the plains of Accra, where it is 
certainly gregarious, as I have never met with solitary 
specimens. 
23. Meropiscus gularis (Shaw): Sharpe, p. 4. 
This very beautiful little Bee-eater is tolerably common in 
Fantee, and is occasionally seen in company with M. albi - 
collis; but whereas the latter species keeps very low, affect¬ 
ing small bushes or the lower branches of trees, the present 
bird invariably selects the highest vantage point it can find, 
a naked branch in preference to a leafy one, from which it 
makes occasional sallies after its prey. I have never observed 
more than three or four together, whereas M. albicollis is 
sometimes met with in very large numbers at a time. The 
vicinity of water appears to be selected by M. gularis in pre¬ 
ference to any other situation. 
24. Eurystomus aper (Lath.)Sharpe, p. 5. 
This bird, unlike its congener, E. gularis , is usually obser¬ 
vable only on the plains of Accra and in the eastern districts 
of the Gold Coast. It is generally found in pairs, and in full 
plumage presents a handsome appearance. Its habits appear 
